Article packaging and handling chain

ABSTRACT

A series of resilient receptacles are interconnected by connective strips forming a chainlike structure. Each receptacle includes an opened end having diametrically confronting spaced tab elements which normally occlude the opened end. Upon application of distorting forces to a receptacle, the tabs are spread apart to allow insertion of an article. Upon removal of the forces, the tabular elements spring back into their occluding position thereby preventing the article from inadvertent removal.

United States Patent Pfaff 1 51 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] ARTICLE PACKAGING AND 3,342,318 9/1967 Rvekberg et a1 ..206/42 HANDLING CHAIN 3,019,891 2/ 1962 lrby ..206/] R [72] Inventor: Wayne K. Pfafl, P. O. Box 5026, Irving, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7560 106,471 671967 Denmark ..206/.82 [22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1970 1,510,375 1/ 1968 France ..206/42 [21] Appl- No; 16,344 1,278,149 11/1961 France ..220/23.8

Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair [52] US. Cl. ..206/l R, 24/204, 63/4, I Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman 206/45.19, 206/56 AC, 220/23.8, 224/28 8 Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [51] Int. Cl ..A45c 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..24/204, 208 A; 46/25; 63/ l, [57] ABSTRACT 631/4; 150/42, 44; 206/1 R, .82, 42, 45.19, 56 R, 56 A f l db A 56 AC 56 D' 220/232 23.4 23.8" 224/28 1 Y t1ve stnps formmg a chamhke structure. Each receptacle 1neludes an opened end having diametrically confronting spaced [56] Reterences cued tab elements which normally occlude the opened end. Upon UNITED STATES PATENTS application of distorting forces to a receptacle, the tabs are spread apart to allow insertion of an article. Upon removal of l Retherford ..206/ X the forces the tabular elements into their occlud- 3,083,429 4/ 1963 Barlow et al. .24/20 U ing position thereby preventing the article from inadvertent 3,295,710 l/1967 Mat-chant ..220/23.8 ,emovaL 3,083,818 4/1963 Rynghave et al. ...206/.82 2,808,925 10/1957 OReilly ..206/.82 1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 7 I972 WAYNE K. PFA FF INVENTOR ARTICLE PACKAGING AND HANDLING CHAIN The present invention relates to a continuous plastic chain with precision storage receptacles integrally formed along the length of the chain.

During the present time, there exists a great need for a packaging and handling structure for miniature fragile parts. Such as electronic components. Oftentimes, such components are stored in bulk which requires manual handling and it has been found by experience that such manual handling can cause destruction of a component. Further, by storing a mass of such components, inventory control is difficult.

The present invention is directed to a chainlike structure including a plurality of spaced receptacles fabricated from a resilient material. Upon application of forces to the receptacle, tab elements normally occluding an open end of each receptacle spread apart to allow admission of a component. Upon removal of the forces, the tab elements close and prohibit inadvertent removal of the component. During packaging, the components are serially fed to the various receptacles on the chainlike structure, on an assembly line ba sis, and after conclusion of an article packaging process, a large number of components are conveniently and safely stored until required.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a chainlike structure including a plurality of receptacle bodies.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the application of forces to a resilient receptacle resulting in the spread ing apart of tab elements thereby allowing admission of a component.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a section of the chain illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the mating portions of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a chainlike structure including a series of linked receptacle bodies 12 is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The chainlike structure is a composite of (l) a strip 13 composed of spaced cylindrical hollowed bodies 14 interconnected by sections 16, and (2) a second strip 17 of spaced base members 18 interconnected by sections 20. The base members are generally cylindrical in shape and are adapted to mate with the hollowed bodies 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 clearly illustrates the detail of each receptacle 12. The cylindrically shaped hollow body 14 includes an annular wall 22 having diametrically opposing and confronting tab elements 24 and 26 integrally connected to an outward end of the wall 22.

Each base member 18 is comprised of a disclike element 28 which centrally mounts a pedestal 30 adapted for concentric insertion within a hollow body 14. More particularly, the pedestal 30 includes a button element 32 extending upwardly into a shank element 34, the latter supporting an article to be placed in the receptacle 12 as later explained.

.The entire structure illustrated in FIG. 1 can be conveniently molded by injection molding of a flexible plastic material. The strips 13 and 17 are positioned in mating relation so that each base member 18 engages a hollow body 14 and can be secured together by heat treatment, gluing, or by.

constructing the button element 32 so that it serves as a means for frictionally engaging the lower opened end of a mating hollow body 14.

After the strips 13 and 17 have been secured, the resulting chain structure 10 is line fed to a packaging section equipped with means for exerting deforming forces on the body of receptacle 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In one example, fingers 36 and 38 press against the wallof the receptacle body resulting in oval or elllptical deformation. Also, tab elements 24 and 26 spread apart to allow deposit of a component 40 onto shank element 34. After retraction of fingers 36 and 38, the receptacle assumes its normal cylindrical shape causing confronting retraction of the tab elements 24 and 26 which prevents inadvertent removal of the deposited article or component. As an end result, the component is securely and safely stored in the receptacle until reapplication of deforming forces which allows removal of the component.

It will be appreciated that although fingers 36 and 38 have been shown to cause the required deformation prior to depositing an article 40 in the receptacle, the same effect may be obtained by use of manual force or other instruments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification or alternate design of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1. Primarily, a single unitary receptacle body 42 is formed with a closed lower end 44. A single series of sections 46 link adjacently positioned receptacles 42. Thus, as will be appreciated, securement of mating hollow bodies and base members is unnecessary, as previously explained in relation to the first embodiment. Tab elements 48 and 50 extend diametrically across the upper open end of the receptacle and serve the same purpose as the tab elements 24 and 26 of the first embodiment. In the case of the tab elements 48 and 50, notches or slots 52 are formed along the confronting outward edges of each, these slots being desirable for certain shaped components.

In order to load a component into the receptacle shown in FIG. 5, deforming forces can be exerted by fingers 36 and 38, or other force imposing instruments in the same manner as previously discussed. However, it will be noted that in order to achieve the desired spreading of the tab elements, the deforming forces should be directed along a line substantially perpendicular to the diametrical line connecting the tab elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A packaging receptacle comprising a hollowed resilient body, resilient tab means connected in occluding relation across an open outward end of the body, the tab means being responsive to the application of body deforming forces which cause displacement of the tab means from the end-occluding position to allow entry of an article into the body, removal of the forces resulting in return of the tab means to occluding relation across the open outward body end thereby preventing removal of the article, said body being fabricated from a first member having opened opposite ends, one end connecting the tab means, and the opposite end allowing entry of a second mating base member which serves as a closure for the body, a plurality of first and second members being respectively connected by interposing connective sections to form mating strips adapted for mutual attachment resulting in a chainlike structure. 

1. A packaging receptacle comprising a hollowed resilient body, resilient tab means connected in occluding relation across an open outward end of the body, the tab means being responsive to the application of body deforming forces which cause displacement of the tab means from the end-occluding position to allow entry of an article into the body, removal of the forces resulting in return of the tab means to occluding relation across the open outward body end thereby preventing removal of the article, said body being fabricated from a first member having opened opposite ends, one end connecting the tab means, and the opposite end allowing entry of a second mating base member which serves as a closure for the body, a plurality of first and second members being respectively connected by interposing connective sections to form mating strips adapted for mutual attachment resulting in a chainlike structure. 